Maple Grove junior Brenner Hohenstein won a state title in the 100-yard breaststroke Saturday as the Crimson finished 10th at the Class 2A state swimming and diving meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Hohenstein trailed Cory Lau of Hopkins at the 50-yard mark but overtook the freshman in the second half of the race. He finished in 57.08 seconds, .28 seconds faster than Lau.

"I was just glad that all the work that I've done thus far in the year … it finally paid off," Hohenstein said.

The Crimson had three top-eight finishes in addition to Hohenstein's 100 breaststroke title. Senior Mike Rouleau took second in the 100 backstroke (51.29) and senior Dan Ebert took seventh in the 100 breaststroke (59.06). The Crimson's 200 medley relay team of Hohenstein, Rouleau and seniors Aaron Dabson and Andrew Wong took sixth (1:36.83).

Maple Grove was one of several north metro schools to place at the Class 2A meet. Section 7 champion Anoka finished 11th, Osseo took 23rd, Irondale finished 25th Mounds View took 27th.

Anoka senior Cole Birklid and junior Matt Hedman each placed in the top five in two events. Birklid finished fifth in the 100 freestyle (46.86) and second in the 200 freestyle (1:41.17), while Hedman took fourth in the 200 individual medley (1:54.56) and third in 500 freestyle (4:36.40).

Irondale junior Jacob Wielinski took second in the 500 freestyle (4:35.65).

Class act in wrestling defeat

Blaine sophomore Malik Stewart provided a gesture of sportsmanship and respect in Saturday's state wrestling individual finals that may have been missed by many fans but was far from unappreciated. Having just lost to St. Michael-Albertville's Mitchell McKee for the Class 3A 120-pound championship, Stewart went over and gave a hug to McKee's father, Steve, who had been using Mitchell's attempt to win a state championship as motivation in his battle against terminal cancer.

"That really meant a lot to me," Steve McKee said. "That kid is really a class act."

Honors

Maple Grove freshman wrestler Tyler Shilson was named to the Class 3A all-tournament team, after winning two major decisions in the state tournament last Thursday.

Nate Gotlieb is a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment for the Star Tribune.